A new single from the Surrey songsmith and taken from a second album long in gestation but out in a few weeks. Armstrong writes on guitar and keyboards and is in the tradition of Billy Joel, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Don Fagen, Leo Sayer and Tiny Tim…just kidding with the last one, Mike! With his partner in crime Warren Bennett he crafts melody-first pop-rock songs that step outside of fads or fashion, in a way that, say Randy Newman creates music. The aim is to put songs together that stand the test of time. Star players contribute and these include Steely Dan guitar ace Elliott Randall, maybe the most famous player to have borrowed one of my Fender combo’s…

This song rides in on acoustic guitar, with Michael singing in the higher end of his range and mining its plaintive qualities. Backing vocals fill the backdrop. The song construction observes the finest traditions of Albert Hammond in constructions and the strings evoke classic Jimmy Webb. Pleasingly, there is no effort to sound American on the vocal. A nice tuneful outing for the ears.

My copy includes the Album Version.

Travelling Wilburys fans step forward!

Pete Sargeant